MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, DUKE POLICE

Mental Health Specialist, Duke Police

The Mental Health Specialist serves as a key member of the campus and hospital safety team, combining security expertise with mental health crisis response. This role focuses on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and compassionate engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral concerns or other crises. The specialist provides trauma-informed respectful, and resource-driven support to ensure the dignity and safety of all members of the community, with particular attention to unique needs of the unhoused population.

Respond to incidents involving individuals in mental health or behavioral crisis, utilizing crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques. Provide compassionate engagement and support to individuals experiencing homelessness on campus and in hospital settings, ensuring they are treated with dignity, respect, and care. Connect unhoused individuals with emergency shelter options, medical care, food resources, and longer-term housing support services in collaboration with local outreach organizations. Safely transport individuals in crisis to appropriate facilities or services, following established protocols. Collaborate with internal departments (security, social work, counseling, emergency services) and external partners (law enforcement, mental health agencies, shelters, and outreach programs). Maintain accurate and timely documentation of incidents, interventions and outcomes, including referrals and follow-up efforts for unhoused individuals. Serve as a resource to campus and hospital staff regarding crisis response, homelessness-related concerns, and available community support options. Assist in developing and implementing proactive strategies to reduce homelessness-related incidents and enhance campus/hospital safety through prevention, education and outreach. Provide follow up support and referrals to individuals in need, connecting them with long-term services housing assistance, and community reintegration opportunities where possible.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideasan exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.